How buddy... Isn't she beautiful?... I have already known your answer... bruhhh
...
In Lunaria Capital City of the Nadian Empire...
Lunaria, the capital city, is a place where the scent of the industrial age mixes with ancient grandeur. The morning air hangs slightly heavy. Carts and the carriages of the aristocracy rush through the streets, creating a symphony of noise that defines the city's daily routine.
For the past few weeks, only one topic dominates the city's conversations_ in the journals, the coffee houses, and the street markets. It is the story of the Nightingale Princess, Aespa Nightingale.
The front cover of the city's famous Imperial Insight journal features Aespa's portrait in a splendor never before seen. The photograph, taken during Lady Vena's birthday night, highlights her silver-white hair and deep sapphire eyes.
Headline: '''The Lost Silver-Haired Fairy: The Goddess-Like Beauty of the Nightingale House Shakes the Empire.'''
Inside the journal, Aespa's life story is narrated in an overly romantic, almost mythical tone.
'''...The Silver-White Fairy, who was abused by her stepmother and stepsisters, forced to hide in a dark chamber.'''
'''...After miraculously escaping an assassination attempt, she suddenly appears, uses her father's Will, and reclaims her authority as the Mistress of the House.'''
'''...The court's judgment forces the arrogant stepmother, Vivienne, and her three daughters to abandon the mansion.'''
Next to Aespa's picture is a smaller photograph of her mysterious bodyguard, Karina Sinclair. Her Crimson Eyes and wolf-like ear shape instantly capture public interest, fueling countless rumors.
Sub-Headline: '''Crimson Guardian: A Beautiful Girl with Demonic Eyes Protecting the Mistress.'''
In the Street Corners and Gossip...
In a busy alley of the capital, an old man sits on a wooden crate, telling a story with small paper puppets attached to tiny sticks. A crowd of children and commoners gathers, watching with rapt attention.
On his miniature stage, the paper puppet of Aespa, with her silver-white hair, takes center stage, like a fairy descending from the sky to Lady Vena's birthday party.
The Old Man (Loudly): "Look here! This is the story of Princess Aespa! The most beautiful girl in the Empire, Princess Aespa Nightingale, descends upon Lady Vena's birthday in a plain white gown. The moment she appears, the music and the chatter stop. Her divine beauty captures the attention of everyone! Then, at midnight, her three jealous sisters send two assassins to kill her."
The old man brings out the paper puppets of the two assassins sent by Vena's sisters. One of them holds a miniature sword. They creep toward the sleeping Aespa puppet.
He moves the paper puppet of Karina to the front. The figure of Karina is posed as if drawing her blade.
The Old Man: "But at that moment, the bodyguard, Karina Sinclair, who hides in the corner of the Silver-Haired Princess's room, eliminates them!"
He makes the Karina puppet clash with the two assassins, then quickly replaces the sleeping Aespa with a puppet of a wide-awake Aespa.
The old man continues: "That is where the Silver-Haired Princess: Aespa Nightingale and the Crimson Guardian: Karina Sinclair first meet! At first, the Princess fears the Crimson Guardian, thinking she is a demon. But the guardian explains she has come from a distant land to serve by the decree of Lord Nightingale's Will. With the bodyguard's help, the Silver-Haired Princess wins the court case against her stepmother and three sisters, becoming the Mistress of Nightingale. And the Princess and her bodyguard live happily ever after in the grand mansion! That's the end of the story, folks!"
A Woman in the Crowd: "Actually, that girl is a nine-tailed fox demon or a witch! No one can be that beautiful!"
A Worker in the Crowd: "No, sir! She must be an apostle of a Goddess."
Amidst the rumors and the external noise...
The Black Soot smoke from the chimneys of the sprawling brick factories partially covers the sky. As the smoke travels toward the Noble Quarter on the city's south side, it dissipates slightly.
Inside the grand Nightingale Mansion, the golden sunlight fights the smoke, filtering peacefully through the glass windows into the Mistress's study.
Aespa Nightingale is the official Mistress of the Mansion. Protected by Karina Sinclair and the powerful Will, she has reclaimed her authority.
Aespa's face is smooth and porcelain, but her deep sapphire eyes are clouded with worry. Before her lies a daunting stack of documents_ the financial mess left behind by her stepmother, Vivienne. She reads a large ledger with determined effort.
Karina Sinclair sits calmly to Aespa's right. Dressed in her Victorian-Chinese Hybrid black attire, her crimson eyes remain steady, constantly surveying the room for any hidden danger.
Aespa takes a contract and shakes her head.
"Reviewing these debt contracts is exhausting. Karina... I have successfully canceled Lord Montagu's main debt contract. Vivienne repeatedly renewed this debt, attempting to mortgage half of our factories."
Karina's red eyes turn toward Aespa. Her voice is cold and steady.
"Her intent was clear: to financially cripple the Nightingale House and use Montagu to force a marriage upon the Mistress. Lord Montagu is not only a ruthless industrialist but a greedy man who desires your unparalleled beauty. This cancellation showcases your wisdom, my Mistress. Vivienne conspired to sell you to Montagu to save the house and create a better future for her daughters."
Aespa sighs, pouting her lips slightly.
"Wisdom only gives me a headache from all the paperwork. But... Karina... will Montagu's harassment stop now?"
Karina slowly rises, gripping the hilt of her long Zenith Blade.
"He is a man of greed and arrogance. If documents fail, he will resort to physical threats. We must remain vigilant."
Just then, Mrs. Gable, the maid, enters with a look of distress.
"Mistress Aespa, there is bad news. Lord Montagu's aide, Mr. Finn, is in the grand drawing-room. He insists he will not leave without meeting you. He is holding a marriage proposal."
Aespa's face turns pale.
"Oh... what should I do? Karina... we just voided his debt contract."
Karina stands completely. Her movement is smooth yet dangerous, like a majestic beast.
"Mrs. Gable, allow them entry into the main room. Mistress Aespa, remain calm in your seat. I will resolve this pretense."
In the grand drawing-room, Mr. Finn stands with an arrogant smirk, flanked by two muscular bodyguards.
Mr. Finn: "Miss Nightingale, please take time to consider my Lord's marriage proposal. Lord Montagu is still willing to enter a new contract for your factories."
Aespa steps forward bravely, her sapphire eyes shining without fear.
"Mr. Finn, my House will not enter any new contract with your master. I respectfully decline Lord Montagu's offer."
Mr. Finn's face stiffens, the smile instantly vanishing. He laughs with disdain.
Mr. Finn: "Miss Nightingale, you may be the Mistress, but you do not yet know that the House is drowning in a sea of debt. Montagu is the only one who can save you."
Mr. Finn's words instantly startle Aespa. She worries that her stepmother may have secretly created other financial entanglements with Lord Montagu, even if the primary contract is canceled.
In that moment, Karina senses Aespa's rising panic and moves forward. Her crimson eyes lock onto Mr. Finn. Karina's black attire seems to absorb all the light, and the atmosphere in the room immediately freezes.
Karina: "Mr. Finn, your rotten lies are unworthy of the Nightingale Mistress's attention."
Mr. Finn sneers.
"Who is this? Aespa's bodyguard? We can easily dispatch you before anyone arrives, woman."
His two bodyguards draw their swords and step toward Karina.
Karina (In a calm and icy voice): "You must have heard. Consider what happened to the assassins who broke into this House. Their bodies cannot even be recovered from the soil of Lunaria Capital now."
As Karina speaks, she slowly lowers her Katana onto the marble floor of the grand drawing-room. The blade is so sharp it grazes the floor slightly. Though she does not draw the sword, this single act creates a chilling, blood-freezing threat throughout the room.
Karina: "Send this message to your Master, Lord Montagu: To cross the boundary of the Nightingale House is to covet death. Do not send any representative near my Mistress again. If you do, they will all perish beneath my Blood Queen's Blade."
Mr. Finn and the bodyguards stand frozen, their faces pale. They remember the fate of the assassins from the night before. Mr. Finn does not even try to pick up the marriage proposal. He retreats and flees the drawing-room as quickly as possible.
Aespa subtly lets out a sigh of relief.
Aespa: "That was incredible, Karina. I want to be cool and fearless like Karina always... But I'm still afraid to even speak properly to the servants in the house."
Karina retrieves her blade from the ground and bows to Aespa.
Karina: "My Mistress, I dare not accept your praise. I will fulfill any wish you have."
Aespas eyes sparkle.
Aespa: "My wish? Really? Good..."
She approaches Karina closely, looking intently at her face.
Aespa: "My request is not a grand one. I want to see Karina's smile. I just want to see my friend smile."
The words strike Karina suddenly. The crimson of her eyes trembles slightly. She remembers that in her entire life_ not her father, nor her master, nor an enemy_ has ever asked to see her smile. Everyone has only ever wanted her capability to kill, her discipline, and her stoicism. A blush creeps up to her werewolf ears.
Karina (Her voice slightly shaking): "My Mistress... I... I cannot comply with that. A smile is not part of my duty."
Aespa does not give up. She steps closer and gently takes Karina's hand. Aespa's warm palm touches Karina's ice-cold skin.
Aespa: "Please, just once... I just want to see my friend Karina's happy face."
When Aespa pouts like a naughty child, Karina feels utterly disarmed.
Karina: "Very well... If it is the Mistress's command..."
Karina forces her facial muscles and produces her first smile. But it is a strained, lifeless smile, like that of a trained soldier completing a task.
Aespa (Shaking her head, her voice softening):
"No, Karina. That looks like the face you make after finishing a combat mission. That's not a real smile. If Karina doesn't smile properly, I will go on a hunger strike starting today."
The threat of a hunger strike instantly shatters Karina's rigid control. She knows Aespa's history of deprivation. She cannot allow anything to harm Aespa.
Karina closes her eyes for a silent moment, stepping back from her persona as the Crimson Guardian. When she looks back at Aespa, she produces her first genuine, warm, and inviting smile. It is like the sun touching a glacier. Her eyes genuinely sparkle, warming the cold air of the room.
Aespa (Clapping her hands softly, her eyes widening): "Oh... Karina! That's it! That's the smile I wanted to see!"
Aespa's satisfaction is a victory greater than winning the court case. Karina quickly suppresses the smile, returning to her stoic expression, but the warmth on her cheeks does not fully disappear.
Aespa: "Good, Karina. My second wish is... Teach me to be as brave and skilled as you. I want to escape this life of being a scared, indecisive girl."
Karina (Nodding): "As the Mistress wishes. I will not only protect you but teach you to protect yourself. However, the training will not be easy."
Aespa: "Understood... But I will try my best, Teacher Karina."
Karina (Her eyes widening slightly): "T-Teacher?"
Aespa (Laughing gently and sweetly like a princess): "Yes... From today onward, Karina is my Personal Teacher."
From that day on, the cold mornings of the Nightingale Mansion are filled with the sounds of courage and steel. In the secret training room behind the mansion's gardens, Karina teaches Aespa the fundamentals of soul essence, swordsmanship, martial arts, and mental fortitude. Aespa's body is weak, but Karina sees the fierce desire hidden beneath her silver-white beauty.
Occasionally, to cure Aespa's agoraphobia and to help her understand the city's dynamics, Karina takes her outside, hidden beneath discreet cloaks.
In the city streets, Aespa feels like a child taking her first steps outside of captivity. The gazes of the crowd, drawn by her natural aura, feel intense even through the cloak. Yet, under the unwavering protection of Karina, the silent, deadly guard, Aespa feels no fear. She is slowly transforming into a brave and decisive woman.